As a critically acclaimed, genre-defining roguelike, Hades has become one of the most beloved indie games of the last decade and has also managed to break into the mainstream. While escaping the underworld is the primary goal of the game, it's not the only thing that players can do as Zagreus. Throughout the game's runtime, he can interact with various other denizens of the Underworld and help to bring them some degree of peace.

In his quest to escape the underworld, Zagreus helps various figures from Greek mythology, notably reuniting the lost lovers Orpheus and Eurydice. The game's story also features the heroes Achilles and Patroclus, who are very much in love — however, getting them back together is one of the longest quests in the game. It's a bit of a slow burn to get the pair to reconcile, but if Zagreus plays his cards right, he'll also be able to reunite them before he's able to escape.

Updated on March 5, 2024 by Noelle Warner: Hades is a testament not only to its genre but to the gaming industry as a whole. The wholesome romantic relationships in the game are one of its most lauded features, and that of course includes Achilles and Patroclus' tale as Zagreus helps to bring them back together. This guide has been updated to feature even more information about how to reunite the pair, and to bring the piece up to CBR's current editorial standards.

How To Locate And Help Achilles & Patroclus

Achilles' dialogue box pops up during gameplay of Hades
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The first step to reuniting the lovers is finding them within the Underworld. Achilles is easy — as Zagreus' mentor, Achilles is one of the characters who players can interact with in the House of Hades from the start of the game. He's on the left side of the house, where he offers Zagreus advice and support. Then later on in the game, Patroclus can be found inside a chamber at Elysium, which is demarked by a door with an exclamation point icon. Along with Eurydice and Sisyphus, he's one of the helpful event NPCs that the player will encounter on a run, offering useful items that can mean the difference between life and death while battling out of the Underworld.

Items Given By Special NPCs During A Run:

Sisyphus (Tartarus)

Health (varies)

Darkness (50-55)

Obols (100)

Eurydice (Asphodel)

Ambrosia Delight (up to 2 random Boons of yours are upgraded to the next Rarity)

Pom Porridge (up to 4 random Boons of yours gain +1 Lv)

Refreshing Nector (the next 3 Boons you find have upgraded Rarity)

Patroclus (Elysium)

  • Kiss of Styx Premium (Replenish all uses of Death Defiance)
  • Touch of Styx Dark (Your Stubborn Defiance restores 50% more health; 15 encounter duration)

HydraLite Gold (Restore 30% health when you enter a chamber; 5 chamber duration)

Cyclops Jerky Select (Your attack deals +60%; 10 encounter duration)

To unlock conversations with Achilles and Patroclus, players need to give them enough Nectar. Getting the conversations to fully unfold will take some time, as the player will only see Patroclus once a run if they're maximally lucky. Achilles will be easier to find, as he is consistently at the House of Hades, but since the player can only give one Nectar to any given character per run, this task will take some investment. Giving the characters nectar will max out Zagreus' relationships with them, allowing players to find out just how much the pair miss each other. Eventually, Patroclus will ask Zagreus to pass on the message, "Risk it all," to Achilles. Upon doing so, Achilles is emboldened to alter his deal with Hades so that can visit Elysium and see Patroclus.

How To Retrieve Achilles' Contract With Hades

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To facilitate the reunion between Achilles and Patroclus, players have to unlock the Administrative Chamber which Zagreus was barred from for being a terrible employee. This will take some patience, as it's a random process, so the player will simply have to continue going out on runs until the event triggers. When Zagreus mentions resting for a bit between runs, a flashback where he enters the chamber can be triggered. Finishing the scene makes the chamber available to purchase for three Diamonds.

How To Obtain Diamonds:

  • Defeat the Bone Hydra using each unique weapon
  • Defeat the Bone Hydra with each weapon at each heat level up to level 20
  • Complete tasks from the Fated List of Minor Prophecies
  • Trade with the Wretched Broker
  • Buy one from Charon at his shop in the Temple of Styx
  • Fish in Greece or the final boss area
  • Get lucky with the Poseidon boon Sunken Treasure (0.03% drop rate)

The "easiest" way to obtain Diamonds is to defeat the Bone Hydra and collect the bounty for escaping Asphodel. They can also be acquired by completing certain prophecies from the Fated List of Minor Prophecies and trading with the Wretched Broker, who sets up shop at the counter in the bottom right corner of the kitchen. A diamond might also be attained in an extremely rare drop from Poseidon's Sunken Treasure boon. Alternatively, Charon sells them for 1,000 Gold.

After the chamber has been purchased, Achilles' contract has to be found. This can be done by maxing out Zagreus' relationship with his maternal figure, Nyx. Thankfully, she can also be found milling around the House of Hades quite regularly, so all the player has to do there is repeat the process of giving her Nectars until her friendship is leveled up. When she has received the requisite amount of Nectar, Nyx will reluctantly reveal that the contract is among the mountain of pacts stored in the chamber.

In addition, the player will also have to complete the quests for both Sisyphus and Orpheus by helping them break their Pacts as well. Even after getting the message from Patroclus, Achilles is reluctant to act for fear that Hades will smite him for disobeying, but if he sees that the others are not punished for finding a way out of their contracts, the hero is more willing to seek out his long-lost love.

The Final Stages In Reuniting Achilles & Patroclus

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Once found, Achilles' contract can be sent to the House Contractor for the necessary revisions. Players will have access to it after Zagreus' next run, but Hades charges five diamonds for the work. Following the purchase, the pact will be altered despite Hades' grumblings about it tarnishing the Underworld's reputation.

As soon as Achilles receives the good news and is told where to find Patroclus, he teleports away from his post in the Underworld. The happy couple can be seen on subsequent runs, standing side by side in Elysium. They'll thank Zagreus for his help, and Achilles will eventually give him a Chthonic Companion. Achilles will go back and forth between the House of Hades and Elysium for the rest of the game.